Thursday, March 31, 2016

Risking Lives for God

I would just like to say something about The Hiding Place movie (and also the book). I loved them both. They are about Corrie Ten Boom. So anyway, here goes.

In 1940, German soldiers invaded the Netherlands. Most
people who survived that war don’t look back. Many people still get distressed,
have nightmares, and are depressed. Be that as it may, the Ten Booms’ did not
suffer from these conditions. Despite the true fact that the Ten Booms’ were
treated harshly, even unto death, God always remained in the center of thought
and heart, and of strength, love and hope. Before Corrie Ten Boom died of old
age, she was still joyful, peaceful, and healthy, despite what horrors she went
through. The Ten Booms’ knew they had to obey God in all things.

The Ten Booms’ knew they were risking everything they
had, even their very lives, to disobey the destructive laws of men and obey
God. On page 71 of the Hiding Place, Corrie asks the question, “How should a
Christian live when evil was in power?” An answer to her question was made by
her father, Casper Ten Boom, on page 78. “In this household,” Father said,
“God’s people are always welcome.” This type of rebellion against men, was
better than disobeying God. In Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus says that what you do to
the least of His, you do to Him. God also says, to look after the orphans and
the widows (James 1:27). On the contrary to this, one might say that the Ten
Booms’ taking in Jews was only a simple act of love and kindness. One might
even say they were foolish to risk their own lives to save a Jewish life. If it
was foolish, why did the plans the Ten Booms’ have to hide the Jews,
successful.

God hid His people right under the enemy’s noses. God was
in everything the Ten Booms’ did. On page 146, Corrie was sent a letter while
she was in prison. Under the postage stamp was the coded message, “All the
watches in your closet are safe.” That meant that all the Jews behind the false
wall in the Beje were safe. In the Bible, in Psalm 91:1, it says, “He that
dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of
the Almighty.” Also in Psalm 145:20 the Psalmist declares, “The Lord preserveth
all them that love Him: but all the wicked will He destroy.” At the same time,
one that does not believe in this may say that the Jews not being found was
“luck”, a coincidence or the Nazi doing a poor search. So it was that the
hidden Jews were safe, but the Ten Booms’ were still arrested.

Although there were tears when the Ten Booms’ were taken
to be imprisoned, Papa Ten Boom assured the Nazi officer that if he was to stay
behind, he would not keep the door shut on someone in need who knocked (pg. 131).
Papa Ten Boom was given the chance not go to prison if he would only not help
any Jews. While on the truck, Papa looked down on the Nazi officer and rejected
the offer to stay. He would fear God and honour their Queen (pg. 126). In
Matthew 10:28, Jesus says, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not
able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both body and
soul in hell.” If the Ten Booms’ had not feared God more than men, they would
not have taken in the Jews. If they had not feared God, they might not have
been arrested but would have been spared their lives. However, if that were the
case, one can only imagine how upset, angry, and disappointed God would be to
see His children rejecting His other children in need. With this in mind, one
could say that God would be understanding; that God would see it was okay not
to risk their lives for the sake of another. Similar to Matthew 10:28, in
Matthew 16:25 Jesus says, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”

Ultimately, as shown above, the Ten Booms’, risking all
for God and His people, trusted and had complete faith that He would supply,
protect, and work all for good and for His glory. God was seen in every situation
that the Ten Booms’ encountered and they always knew and felt He was with them.
In prison, many tried to discourage Corrie and her sister, Betsie, in believing
that was a God who cared when their circumstances were so dreadful.
Nevertheless, even in the evil darkness that surrounded the sisters, they would
not give up on their Father in heaven, for they knew that He would never give
up on them.